Monday, January 07, 2013

I am bound and determined to learn to read crochet patterns. I don't know why it's so hard for me--I get the individual stitches, but trying to put it all together from the page never seems to work out.

To that end, I am going to work several projects from my crochet books this year. Here's a one-day project (well, I started it four times the evening before but ripped them all out). This is the Beanie Hat from Cute and Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench.

It says gauge isn't important, but you see that my hat ended up on Daisy's little head. And those eyelets laced so charmingly with green velvet ribbon? They aren't in the picture. But for some reason my clusters just aren't very close together.

And that flower? Covers my awkward joining of the first several rows. Okay, now you know all. It's a process! Onward and upward, in crochet and everything else.

21 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Oh Daisy, you cutie-pie! Purple is a very nice color on you. "I wish you health to wear it" is the phrase that was offered when someone received a new garment or accessory. So I send those good wishes to you, as you enjoy your new hat. Happy New Year! :o)

Anna, for so many 'mistakes' you have come up with a charming hat for your lovely girl! I began crocheting almost a year ago and have also had some improv results :o) It's fun, though, and so much easier to undo mistakes than knitting.

My trouble is that in my eagerness to finish some crochet projects before Christmas the dormant RSI in my wrist flared up, and I can now only do five minutes or so of hooking before I have to stop. The curse of the fallen world even affects our crafting abilities sadly!

I think you did a fine job. I do know how you feel though. I can pick you any needle and yarn and whip up pretty much anything my family ask for....however I practically go into cardiac arrest when I sit in front of my sewing machine.I have taken a similar approch and am spending 1 hr a day pushing myself to get a project done. Don't laugh but, I'm working on pillow cases. French seams and colorful binding between case and hem. Thank God I plan on using them for Christmas 2013 !

It's so adorable! My theory is that people are either knitters or crocheters and it's hard to cross over. I'm afraid I'm a knitter. I want to be a crocheter because it's so much faster and more versatile (crocheting cuffs onto any old thing - one of my friends just makes up things as she goes along).

Just yesterday I picked up my discarded sock knitting. I'm going to try again to advance to the next level in knitting!

Try going up a size or two on your hook. It looks like you may be pulling too tight. As with knitting, once you get your feel, you'll loosen up.

I really like Rachel's blog. She has great tutorials.http://www.crochetspot.com

While gauge is not as important as it is in knitting, you do need to measure and factor in that the chain you start with loses about 10-20% once you stitch into it depending on yarn, hook size, and tension.

I learned knitting and crochet at the same time taught by my grandma, but stuck with crochet as a child and teen because it was easier for me to manage on loop and a hook than it was to manage two slippery straight sticks and many loops. I got back into knitting in my late 20s.

Hang in there, it's a great skill and you can make fabulous trims for your sweaters and dresses.

Your attitude is so encouraging, Anna, "onward and upward!" A perfect New Year theme! I had a problem with "grown-up" crochet patterns, so I started checking out kids crochet books at the library. They helped me get started because their instructions don't assume I know as much as the grown-up versions do.

Anna, I have been reading your blog for some time,and just finished going back and reading all your old posts. You are truly an inspiration. You find beauty in everything! Thanks so much for posting all the fabulous recipes, the beautiful photography and all of your gorgeous sewing. What a talented family. What a blessing. And you have been a blessing, by sharing some of your world with us!

It's a lovely hat! I have the same crochet challenges. I can do all the stitches and if someone is sitting with me I am fine. Many patterns are vague however and seem to presume the reader just understands some things. Sort of like my shorthand for copying recipes

Do as Amy in this comments does, a good childrens crachet nook (or site) may be yhe answer. For me, crocheting doilies was sometimes a challenge, because the person who wrote the pattern was a brilliant crochet-er but a poor patternwriter. I then look at the picture, usually I get what is wanted then. But I am a longtime crocheter. Start looking at tutorials at the web. if you have trouble understanding one, move on to the next one. You will find that there are many ways to explain the same thing, a few of them will give you the "aha" moment of immediate understanding, bookmark them. Only a few hours of watching webtutorials will give you more understanding then a week of crocheting would do. Or are you a lefty forced into righthandedness. Do try a hook with a thicker diameter handle, it might help and you can make handles thicker yourself. look for tutorials on crochethookhandles with polymer clay. Good luck.

About Me

I am an evangelical Christian. I have a daughter whom I homeschool: Daisy (10), and four older children: Giles (23) and Felix (21), college graduates, Clara (19), a college senior, and Bella (17) who is spending the year volunteering overseas. I'm 44 years old and happily married to my Dear Composer. We live in a 1920's school converted into a home, outside of town. And God is good.

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Photography

Photography is an important part of life at my house. Photos that appear here are taken by Giles, by the Composer, and by me. Giles is a real, paid photographer, and he uses a Sony Alpha. Most of the photography prior to September 2008 is his. Since then I have done most of the shooting and I use a Konica Minolta. Additionally, the Composer offers me nice shots on occasion, often from his little Canon point and shoot. I've given up trying to note who's done what. Thanks for your interest!